‘Kleeway’ approved; will be Seven Streams alternate

With the addition of “Kleeway” – a proposed new trail named after the late Matt Klee – congestion issues on the popular Seven Streams Trail should be greatly alleviated.

That’s the goal, Hood River County Forestry Trails Coordinator Henry Buckalew said this week, after a public walkthrough was done on the proposed trail Wednesday morning.

The new trail was recently approved by HRCF and the Forest Recreation Trails Committee, and once final adjustments are made to its exact route down the hillside, initial brush clearing and hand work can begin.

The trail will be designed as a downhill outlet for mountain bikers riding in the popular Northwest Area Trails System, which encompasses dozens of trails from Kingsley Reservoir to the bottom of Post Canyon Road. The objective of adding the new route is to take pressure off of the most well-used trail in the system – Seven Streams – and alleviate conflicts between bikers coming down at high rates of speed and uphill riders, joggers, dog walkers and other users.

Due to fire danger and associated restrictions, work can only be done by hand until the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is lowered.

The trail will run along the west side of Post Canyon Creek and will serve as an outlet for Family Man, GP, Charley’s Trail, Toilet Bowl and Spaghetti Factory.

For more info on local mountain bike projects, see the Hood River Area Trail Stewards Facebook page at facebook.com/HRATS.